Seoul forms Sewol salvage, compensation teams

South Korea’s Ministry Of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) has established a unit to implement more efficient Sewol disaster follow-up measures.

The MOF had created standards for victim compensations and completed a technical survey to assess the feasibility of hoisting the sunken ferry, following which the Ministry of Public Safety and Security decided to lift up the capsized ferry.

MOF said in a press statement, “The new headquarters has been established to synthesise and systematise follow-up measures. With this purpose, we grouped together the existing teams that were in charge of Sewol salvage work and compensation for victims. Previously, the teams worked individually.”

MOF vice-minister Kim Young-seok will lead the new unit, which officially started work on 14 May.

The unit will open a field office on 15 May in Jindo, which is near the accident spot. Kim will visit the site to check preparation details of the salvage work.

Sewol capsized during a routine Incheon-Jeju trip on 16 April 2014, leaving 295 of 476 passengers and crew dead, while nine are still listed as missing. Authorities, under pressure from victims’ families, are planning salvage works, which are expected to start in September.